Methods and devices associated with direct communications in a radio access network

Abstract

A method for enabling a wireless communication device to operate in a radio access network as a network relay device to a remote device, using a short range communication channel there between, wherein the communication device receives a control indication signal from the remote device as an indication of future data between the communication device and the remote device via the short range communication channel which forms part of a sidelink communication between the relay device and the remote device; wherein the relay device decodes the control indication signal from the remote device to extract a time allocation for future data.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for enabling a wireless communication device to operate in a radio access network as a network relay device to a remote device,
 wherein the wireless communication device receives a control indication signal from the remote device as an indication of future data between the wireless communication device and the remote device, 
 wherein the network relay device signals to a network node, a buffer status report (BSR) message to indicate the future data requirements, 
 wherein the BSR message provides the network node with information about a total predicted amount of data for transmission, and an indication of a timing of expected requested uplink grant, 
 wherein the timing is indicated by a number of transmission time intervals (TTIs) left until expected time of uplink transmission availability. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BSR message is provided ahead of time. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BSR message provides the network node with information that there is potential data without signalling data size. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BSR message is assigned with a dedicated logical channel group by a higher layer. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BSR message is triggered if a predicted relay data for uplink is indicated by a physical layer. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BSR message provides a general indication for a small or medium or large message according to a predefined or configured threshold of an expected transport block size.